PARIS - In a second such operation since October, France expelled nine Afghan illegal immigrants early on Wednesday, a move that has drawn criticism from human rights and opposition political groups.
Media sources said that nine Afghans were picked up at Charles de Gaulle airport by a British charter plane and flown to Kabul. In October, a joint British-French operation expelled 24 Afghans resident in Britain and three from France.
There has been widespread opposition to the expulsions because of the climate of insecurity in Afghanistan.
French government sources declined to confirm Wednesdays forced repatriations but Immigration and National Identity Minister Eric Besson said last October after the first operation that there would be more expulsions.
Reports from Kabul confirmed the arrival of the nine Afghans from France.
French leaders argue that the are forced to expel the illegal immigrants to satisfy British demands to stem the flow of clandestine immigrants into Britain, which is the destination of hundreds of Afghans and Iraqis hiding out in northern France.
In September, security forces raided and destroyed a major, makeshift refugee camp called "The Jungle," which had been illegally set up in northern France by the immigrants. But only half the refugees were present as many had fled upon reports of the raid. Many of those arrested were underage minors and a significant number of others were released because their rights had not been respected in that they were not given access to lawyers.